Architects Climate Action Network is hosting a series of fringe events at the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow. Editor Isabel Allen speaks to ACAN’s Bobby Jewell about the importance of giving the built environment a seat at the table.
Isabel Allen What made ACAN decide to come to COP26?
Bobby Jewell We’ve been talking about COP since our first meeting back in 2019. It’s always been on our radar, and it seemed like a no-brainer to go – we’re lucky to live the host country, and we also have a Scottish chapter of ACAN too who’ve been fantastic to work with.
Mainly though because the built environment is not part of the mainstream climate change discussions. Embodied carbon, sustainable building, natural materials – all these subjects that are so present in the architectural conversations on climate crisis – we felt we had to come here to be part of it and to make sure the built environment is part of the conversation.
Architecture of Crisis: Hopes and Visions, an exhibition by ACAN is on display at New Glasgow Society
Isabel Allen What are you doing while you’re here?
Bobby Jewell We always want to be as inclusive as possible, and work with international and local organisations and help represent those in ACAN who can’t attend. We’re a network organisation, and we’re only as strong as the connections we have and collective voices we can champion. Our workshops for example are aiming to be digitally streamed and we have speakers streamed in on zoom.
We’ve put on an exhibition – Architecture of Crisis: Hopes and Visions – at New Glasgow Society, a local civic society that protects and raises interest in the City of Glasgow. That came about from an exchange on social media between myself and architect Thierry Lye, who’s been so welcoming and generous
The exhibition lays out what ACAN have done so far and what we hope to achieve looking to the future. It’s open until 23rd November and it really shows off our networks and our international chapters. ACAN started with three people – Joe Giddings, Joe Penn and Lauren Shevills – on a bridge at an XR protest in 2019 but now we have chapters all over the world. They have all evolved in different ways but they’re all part of the same mission – to support people to bring about collective reform.
We have another base at Many Studios in the Barras Market, where Architects New Practice have their studio. We’re using it as a shopfront and we’re holding workshops and evening events. We’ve also partnered with Architecture Fringe to hold a cabaret style evening with a Glaswegian comedian Raymond Mearns. His daughter is a specialist in natural materials so he is able to roast the state of the built environment really knowledgeably, as well as being hysterically funny.
Isabel Allen What do you hope to achieve?
Bobby Jewell We’re here to make local connections where possible. But also to represent our international partner organisations. Flying people over here for COP26 seemed absurd but we knew we could champion our international work and talk about everything that’s been achieved during Lockdown and all of our campaigns. If we’re not championing people who can’t be here then what’s the point?
We’re hoping to shift the culture in architecture and to direct more attention towards the built environment. We didn’t get accepted into the official zones but most other grassroots organisations I know that applied to get a presence in the Blue Zone got rejected. But we’re happy to be on the fringe. We thought it was a bit more in keeping with our vibe. Hopefully our presence here will help to direct more media attention at the built environment. But to focus too much on this one event is a mistake. COP26 is a stepping stone not an end point. It’s part of a sustained cultural shift that we’re part of. There will be some politicians who will say ‘Now we’re done’ and likely fly back in private et once it’s over. But it’s part of a longer shift.
Isabel Allen What’s your response to COP26 so far?
Bobby Jewell I’d say cautious optimism. It’s early days. Built Environment is the last day of COP, which to be cynical, pretty much sums up what an afterthought it is. But it’s the first time there’s been a Built Environment day at all, and that has to be good news.
Editor Isabel Allen spoke to ACAN coordinator Bobby Jewell at the COP26 House in Glasgow, where Architecture Today is hosting a series of roundtable events in partnership with Medite Smartply.
The modular timber house, which will remain installed on a brownfield site in the centre of Glasgow for the duration of the COP26 climate change conference, is an exemplar of sustainable and Passivhaus building principles. Once the conference is over, the house will be dismantled into its original 1.2 metre-wide panels and reassembled as part of a community of 12 affordable timber houses near Aviemore.
